John Higgins pointed to a bizarre moment in his Players Championship win over Chris Wakelin, where he claims a fan tried to put him off. The Wizard of Wishaw beat Chris Wakelin 6-5 to move into the quarter-finals, in a marathon contest that swung back and forth in Telford. With the match poised at 5-5, and Wakelin looking odd-son to win after making a break of 51, a missed red on the bottom cushion handed Higgins a lifeline and he clinically cleared up to progress. But Higgins says a spectator tried to put him off as he lined up a shot. “It was just a guy when I was going into the green pocket, he started handing something over to his mate. “And then, like he was, he’s laughing at me as if he’s sort of put me off.” Higgins reckons he wouldn’t have come through the clash, but for his recent China Open triumph, his first title in four years. He said: “It [China Open] was massive. Even in that last frame there, you know when things are going for you. “I fancied Chris to miss that red, whereas if I’d not won the event and you’re maybe struggling for confidence, I wouldn’t clear up from there. “That’s a big win for me.” An eighth frame lasted over an hour and levelled the scores at 4-4, but having been 3-1 down earlier, Higgins admits that was pivotal. “That’s what probably won me the match,” he said “If I lose that frame 5-3, then he probably knocks the wind out of my sails and Chris would have gone on to win.” Higgins slipped out of the top-16 for the first time in 29 years earlier this season, but is now fourth on the one-year list and one of the most in-form players on the tour. He said: “It’s a crazy game that I’ve played for far too long. You’ve just got to enjoy it when things are going good, because there are far more downs in this game than there are ups. “It’s the highest I’ve felt for years since I won my first ranking event.” Higgins was speaking to SportsBoom at: sportsboom.com/snooker